The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-02
And Premier Salisbury, Instead of Applying
for a Peace-Preservation Act. Will Urge
the Passage of Tenants Relief Bill
MIR. Chamberlain Makes Overtures for
Reunion with the Liberal Party.
Prediction that Gladstone Will Be Returned
to Power Within Six Months-later News
from the Great Disaster at Madras
THE IRISH QUESTION.

LONDON, Jan. 1.-The government has at
| length become alarmed at the murmurings of
discomfort from all sides, except from a few
Hartingtonians and the Irish Tories, at their
coercion policy, and it can now be announced
that Lord Salisbury will not apply to Parlia-
ment for the passage of peace preservation
act, l. e., coercion BILL but instead will pass a
tenants relief bill through Parliament with all
speed The change Of 'front.' however, still
leaves the Tories in as hopeless astate as before,
with the exception that it is now possible for
them to stave off the question of local government
for ireland another year. The fight regarding
the governments Irish policy is a triangular
one The Irish Tories, a majority of English
Tories, and Lord Harrington and a number OF
his followers, demand coercion pure End simple,
while Churchill and Chamberlain and the other
radical Unionists are against such policy The
latter are in sufficient majority, with the aid
OF the Gladstonians and Parnellites, to defeat
the government should they propose coercion.
Lord Salisbury has become painfully aware of
| this fact, and has ordered retreat Instead Of
yielding to the clamor of their Irish supporters
the Ministers are now approaching more nearly
every day, to the policy demanded by the Ma
| tionaists.
| The Pail Mall Gazette states that Mr.. Joseph
Chamberlain yesterday made definite overtures
| to Mr.. Gladstone for reunion with the Liberal
party.
Colonel Turner, recently appointed as sue
cessor to General Butler in Kerry, is to be re-
tanned IN that position, despite the demands Of
| the Irish Tories for his removal Colonel Tur-
ner was military secretary to Lord Aberdeen.
Giadstone's Irish viceroy. In the last general
electioLehe stood as Home rule candidate for a
Scotch county constituency, and beyond all
question he is as strong Home-ruler as was
Sir Robert Hamilton himself. One violent and
| abusive Tory organ declared that there was a
Well-known Fenian in the heart of the Castle
supplying United Ireland with official informa-
tion-ths well-known Fenian being Colonel Tur.
ner.
The government is bringing fresh pressure
| upon the Irish landlords; in order to avoid a
resort to coercion. The land commissions,
which always. though ostensibly judicial tri-
bunals, take good deal of their inspiration
from the government, are tumbling down the
rents at pace that may we'll take the breath
away even of John Dillon The reductions
made the past week range from 40 to IS per cent.
and with costs to the landlords, leave the latter
in worse predcament than they were ever in
during the worst days of the Gladstonian Minis
try
Mr. John Dillon has given bail, but will con-
tinue the campaign as if nothing had happened.
1t is admitted that it would not make much diff
ference if Mr.. Dillon were suppressed There
are plenty of men to take his place. and the
campaign would probably go on were all the
members ofthe Irish parliamentary party lodged
in Kilmainham. The government cannot 60 on
under the acts of Edward III. Sooner or later
the matter must come before jury, and the
decision of the two judges favorable to the gov.
ernment's action will then, in all probability. be
reversed.
The plan Of Campaign" has been very trying
on the health of the Nationalist members of
Parliament, owing to the fact that the collection
OF rents is a very slow process. and the action
of the government will be a relief to them.
Mr.. Bernard Kelly, member for South Donegal
died suddenly to-day from the effects of over
work. The health of Mr.. W. E. Redmond, who
has taken an active part in the collection of
rents, has been severely undermined He has faint
ed two or three times in the Offices in which.he
was collecting money. Mr.. Redmond does not
look, physically, a very strong man, but ne is
still only about twenty-five years of age,
and it must be hard work that brings
on fainting fits at twenty-fi Mr..
Cridley. another of the members who has been
collecting rents, is also boy in years, but he
has just stated that if it were not for the feel
ing of enthusiasm with which he approaches
his work, he would be obliged to give it up
Mr.. John Dillon has almost broken down, and
many of his friends say Jail would be less
perilous than continuation of the agitation
Mr.. William O'Brien is thin to ghastliness and
has added many deep lines to his already worn
face Messrs Matt, Harris, Sheehy and Jere-
miah Jordan all show signs of the severe strain
put upon their health by participation in the
plan of Campaign" Up TO this time the amount
collected is 1856, 600.
1t is reported this afternoon that the gov
eminent will bring forward their local govern
ment bill carly in the next session of Parla-
ment. This bill was opposed by Lord Randolph
Churchill, but he was outvoted in the Cabinet
by the same majority which declared in favor of
coercion. This declaration of the government
has greatly strengthened the hands of the
Liberals. and old politicians predict the return
of Mr.. Gladstone to power within six months
The Liberals solid in their opposition to the
local government bill, because of its 1ndemo-
cratic character, and will force it and the Irish
question TO the front despite the mannnvres of
the government to put them off. If any
OF the Liberal UnionIsts support the local gov
eminent bill they will pay the penalty in an uD-
rising OF wrath among the Liberal voters Of their
constituencies In short the next session will
compel every member of the Liberal Unionist
party to definitely decide whether he is going to
be Tory or remain a Liberal Suppose,
for instance, such a question as an
ex otficio representation in the new county
boards was raised. how could any Liberal vote
for measure so reactionaryl But if the Liberal
unlonists all vote against it. then the bill is lost
and the government ia thrown out certain
number or the militant Radicals see this fact
clearly. and have prepared their tactics accord.
ingly. Night after night. everything the
government proposes, there win be Radical